Blind item

A well-known horse owner, who gave millions to a university a few years ago to start a school in his name, is a modest tipper, to put it mildly. The man, who was in the company of John Hendrickson, Marylou Whitney and 7 others last night at one of Saratoga’s upscale restaurants, left a less than 10 percent tip on a $1,000-plus tab, even though he told staff he had a great time.

I also read this on Steve’s blog and made similar comment. I’m certain that Mr. & Mrs Whitney were not aware of this. I’m also certain if it was brought to her attention, she would make amends. If anything she is not cheap when it comes to dealing with the local working class.

As far as the horse trainer, either he lacks class…or drank too much and maybe didn’t realize. (I would hope!)

Years ago I was a Maitre D’ at the Russian Teas Room in NY City and managed a fancy party given by a movie producer. The room was filled with well known actors – there were over 200 people attending and the tab was $150.00 per person. At the end of the night, the movie producer came over me and hugged me and congratulated me for the ‘splendid job’. He grabbed my hand and slipped a wad of bills which I placed in my pocket. When everyone left the restaurant, I took out the wad of bills and counted seven (7) one dollar bills.

Leigh, I hope you’ll be able to follow up on this story in perhaps a few days. It’s getting a lot of comment on Steve’s blog as well. It would be interesting to find out if word gets back to those involved and if someone steps up to the plate (no pun intended)and makes things right.

Ron,
I was referring to Steve Barne’s dining blog right here on the TU website. He carried this same story. I guess because he deals with only dining out, he had numerous comments on both sides of the fence. Check it out you might find it interesting.

I’m afraid I can’t agree with you on the tip cap thing. Obviously serving 8 or 10 people at one table involves much more work than serving a party of 2. It just wouldn’t be fair and waiters wouldn’t take any large groups in that case. Let’s say 7 couples came seperate and spent over $1000.00 total between all of them shouldn’t the waiter expect 15-20% of the total assuming his service was good.

Ron,
Man. Please tell me you are kidding. Do you have any idea how much the hourly wage is for waiters?? Or how incredibly hard it is to smile and say “yes, right away sir” to people like you, Ron?? I think you should post your full name up here Ron – as a public service to all waiters within 100 miles, just so they can keep an eye out for you and give you the service you deserve.

You’re correct Kristiaan. The story does say owner, actually I guess a wealthy one who recent made a large donation to a school recently.
I really don’t know how it works with trainers while here in Saratoga.I would guess since they need to travel here, rent temp. housing etc that they would be on some sort of expense account similar to a business man who travels. In the corporate world I’ve been to group dinners on occasion and the representative of the host company picks up the tab and with 8 or 10 people I’m sure it in excess of $1000.00. Put a handful of business men together on company time and the bar bill adds up quickly! (smiling) Then it’s just expensed back to the corporation.

I guess what bothered me about Marty’s comment was the assumption of the trainer having too much to drink. Not all of them drink. Also some actually try give something towards expenses or a stipend to employees who go up to Saratoga or the short meets like it. Unless the others with Ms. Whitney had their trainers, there’s probably only one trainer who would have been with her.

Kristiaan, I didn’t mean to offend trainers (or anyone for that matter) I misread the original story, and thought it was a trainer not an owner. I’m sure both owners and trainers are like all the rest general public, some drink…some don’t.

I am disgusted by the fact that the owner of this restaurant has allowed their staff to leak this story. This is unbelievably unprofessional and the server(s) who spoke about it outside of work should be fired! It the big picture, servers make very good money and for every party who doesn’t tip as well as they should, it is made up possibly in the same evening by a group that may overtip. Stop whining or get out of the profession and do someting else.

How about the reverse ??? We had a buffet dinner at Hattie’s in Saratoga Springs and they added 18% tip to our bill for four people. No signs, verbal statements–just presented the bill. That will be the last time that any of us “throwdown” our cash at that restaurant.

I’ve NEVER been to a restaurant anywhere in this country where a gratuitiy was not automatically added when a party of 8 and often 6 are seated, period. Look at the menu from the restaurant in question or on the check if it doesn’t indicate it I would be shocked. Even the high dollar buffets at the Bellagio in Vegas add a gratuity and that’s a BUFFET for heavens sake.

As I stated – there were no signs, no menus, no mention by the waitstaff– and we were a table of FOUR –not six or eight as you mentioned. The table of two beside us were also charged 18%. We dine at Hattie’s several times during the year – including the buffet –this is the first time that they have added a gratuity.

spiritoflife,
I was actually addressing those who said it wasn’t added, at the beginning of the comments. I’ve eaten all over the world and have always had a tip automatically added to parties over a certain size, at least in the US. Some of the buffets don’t tell you or post it but when you pay $50 a person for a buffet, then they add a 20% gratuity, it’s hard not to notice since those are usually paid on the way in.

With that size of a table, the one paying the bill should not assume anything when it comes to tipping. Even if it is already added on, which it wasn’t, you still peel off some ten’s and twenty’s when you even express that “You had a GREAT TIME”. Now if this was just a bunch of regulars having a special meeting, then I can see at least twenty percent, but a bunch of High Dollar Folks having a big time on the town, should know better. I am sure that it took more than one server to cater to the Cheapo’s, and I hope the same people come back soon, and the same people serve them. Nothing like finding things in your food that is similar to raw clams, or oysters.

Hey K.C. You have shown yourself to be more than a Moron many times while attempting to give your idiot opinion. Once again you show that you are running true to form. I know for sure that you have better things to do, because you sure mess up most of the comments you make.
Yes, Moron, I have a long memory, and an even an ability to recognize when a fool has entered the forum with the initials…K.C. Your name must be concealed for security reason’s. Tooodle Loo.

Hey there AJ. The restaurant is not The Pentagon. It doesn’t take some secret code to leak the story of Cheapo’s who demand far, and above service, and criticize a $500.00 bottle of wine because the cork doesn’t quite smell up to par. A class restaurant will put twenty percent on the bottom of the bill, to avoid these demander’s slipping out without even giving a tip. These people work hard. They take so much from these people. Run here, run everywhere. Get this, get that. There were many people who could have”LEAKED” this story out. That really slay’s me. “LEAKED”. I got a great laugh out of that. I am coming to Saratoge this September if one of those Hurricane’s don’t blow me away. I am going to go to a few places with a hidden camcorder, and catch some of you Cheapo’s, and then I am going to “LEAK IT” to the Local Paper. That is if they would like it. I do stuff like that. I was in a restaurant in Albany last year, and I notice four fatso’s who ate “ALL THEY COULD EAT”, and then ate some more. When they waddled out of their seats, I saw that they left no tip at all. I am not a wealthy person, but I watched what that waitress had to put up with, and I looked at my companion of the time, and we both dug up a fiver, and left the Very Nice Lady a $10.00 tip on The Waddlers table. We didn’t want her to know, but when we left, and left her a tip at our table, she came up to me, and said, “You didn’t have to leave two tips”. I was so embarrassed, but happy to make someones day. So, those of you that don’t tip, please stop and think about the $2.00 an hour a Server is Paid. Your tips make a big difference. No, I am not a server. I am a 65 year old very Young Man, coming to visit the City I Love. Saratoga, and Albany. I have to stay in Albany because a lot of you people think its racing season all year long, with those price’s. Its cheaper for me to take a cab to Saratoga from Albany, andyes, I will tip the cab driver.

A.J. Why do you say that? I am a sixty-five year old man, who has been around. I have seen more in my years than most people will ever see. I just comment on things that are of interest to me, and I think, others, but if that makes me a weird dude, thats ok, Dude. I have written a couple of novels, and it just seem’s like I can’t stop typing. DUDE !!

Bob…YOU have witten a couple of novels ??? Hard to believe. Please forgive me but your writing is amaturish, confusing and just strange. Not to mention you make absolutely no sense. It is also clear you have never been in the resturant business and if you were you certaily didn’t succeed. You are insulting, rude and obnoxious. My guess, you have done nothing and are a floundering idiot. Most people who brag about “seeing more in their years than most ever will” is all bull%$@&..I ws being kind with “weird dude”